Bhutan

Since 2000, HCP has partnered with the Royal Government of Bhutan to develop a comprehensive system of eye care for the nation of over 700,000, supporting the sub-specialty training for eight Bhutanese ophthalmologists and dozens of paramedical staff in addition to providing more than 7,000 sight-restoring eye surgeries and distributing more than 10,000 pairs of reading glasses.

In December Dr. Bhim Rai, Bhutan’s first vitreo-retina specialist, completed a 15-month fellowship at the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu, Nepal, and HCP procured specialized equipment for his new vitreo-retina practice at Bhutan’s National Hospital in Thimpu. As Dr. Rai was preparing to return to Bhutan, he overlapped with two Bhutanese colleagues that HCP sent to Tilganga who arrived for paramedical training in vitreo-retina.

Highlights from 2011:

• Completion of Dr. Bhim Rai’s 15-month vitreo-retina fellowship and procurement of equipment necessary to start new practice.
• Increased patient care — see table.
• Successful development of Dr. Nor Tsherings Cornea Practice, including developing a system for tissue exchange from the Eye Bank at Tilganga.
• Dr. Geoff Tabin’s visit in November included an eye camp conducted at Paro District hospital where patients received specialized consultation and surgical care on site or a referral to Dr. Nor at Thimpu National Hospital.
• Two ophthalmic assistants graduated from the Royal Institute of Health Sciences in Thimpu.